Catholic Schools Week set
Madonna Catholic Regional School principal Don Militzer has two goals for Catholic Schools Week.
“I want to keep it prayerful and fun,” Militzer said about the activities planned for Jan. 31 through Feb. 6. “I went through Catholic school from kindergarten through eighth grade, and it was always fun.”
Madonna Catholic in Monongahela is among three parochial schools in Washington County – along with John F. Kennedy in Washington and St. Patrick in Canonsburg – taking part in the annual celebration of Catholic school education. This year’s theme is “Catholic Schools – Communities of Faith, Knowledge and Service.”
Militzer said the school, with 120 students in preschool through eighth grade, plans a mixture of activities for the week that are entertaining, educational and service-oriented, including a pep rally, snowball dance, science center field trip and trivia bowl.
Students in fourth through eighth grade will have an opportunity Tuesday to learn about community members’ jobs during Career Day.
Also Tuesday, kindergarteners through third-graders will tour the California University of Pennsylvania.
“It is a week we celebrate the uniqueness that is a Catholic school,” Militzer said.
John F. Kennedy school, with 290 students in preschool through eighth grade, kicks off the week Sunday with an opening Mass.
Some of the activities will include theme-oriented dress days, a pizza party, trivia games, story times and a talent show. Also, students in the upper grades will participate in activities with the younger kids. And students will work on various service projects including making comfort bags for cancer patients and placemats for residents at the Presbyterian Senior Care assisted-living facility.
“This week not only celebrates our faith-based educational community but is a week of really fun activities mixed with service activities that ‘pay it forward’ and give back to the community,” principal Kathleen Harrington said.
Each day next week at St. Patrick, with 185 students in preschool through eighth grade, has a different theme, and the school has a variety of activities planned, including spelling and geography bees and a variety show.
This year marks the 42nd anniversary of Catholic Schools Week, according to the Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh.
“This is a celebration that takes place not just one week, but every day of the year,” Bishop David A. Zubik said.
“Our Catholic schools are a gift built through the generosity and support of the faithful of our local church. When we celebrate Catholic schools, we celebrate the faith, hope and love of the church of Pittsburgh. We celebrate all of us.”